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Friday, December 28, 2012

Christmas Gender Reveal

This Christmas was just another amazing one to add to my list.
In my short little life, God blesses me on special days.

I got engaged on Christmas.
I found out Rozlyn's gender on my birthday.
And this year, I found out the gender of our littlest baby.

Although, we planned this fun surprise, it was extremely difficult at first to know that someone knew but not me.

We went to our ultrasound on Wednesday, the 19th and I immediately took the envelope to my friend AKA the gifter. I couldn't keep that envelope in my hot little hands for too long!

A few days later, she let me know she had the gift ready. I raced to pick it up. Why, I'm not sure really sure since I couldn't open it anyways. I guess I'm just a crackhead for gifts and anything in pretty wrapping.


This guy set under my tree, literally eating away at my sanity and building my anxiety up to a dangerous level.

For days, Mark repeatedly reminded me the gift doesn't matter since it's a girl. Over and over, I tried to get him excited because we really didn't know. Seriously though, he 100% completely believed it was a girl. Me, I didn't have a clue.

But finally, Christmas Day arrived. And we all woke up sick. To the point that we contemplated canceling the reveal and arranging a New Year's Day reveal. Ultimately, our excitement overpowered the sickness and we went ahead with our plans.


Finally, everyone arrived. And the gift unwrapping commenced.


So, there it is. Our answer. A baby boy. A son. Just for us. A brother. Just for Rozlyn.


The greatest surprise of all was that Mark couldn't even put together what the blue meant. He was THAT sure it was a girl.

We are completely over the moon. Mark still texts me everyday telling me that he's still in shock that he's having a son.


Now, to think of a name for this little boy before he's 10 years old.
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17 Weeks

Happy belated Christmas everyone! 
I hope everyone had a great holiday and was blessed with everything they wished for!

Outfit: Gymboree / Card Design: Digital Party / Photography: MercyMae Photography
This was our Christmas card this year. Our little princess hogged the whole thing...not that I'm complaining or anything. The more Rozlyn, the merrier! 

Anyways, to the point of the point. A pregnancy update.

So, the past couple of weeks have been CRAZY!
Getting ready for Christmas which I hosted at my house completely distracted me from doing an update last week.
Then we all woke up Christmas Day sicker than dogs so I pretty much neglected this week too. Although, we were sick, I couldn't bring myself to cancel our gender reveal gathering. 

Due to still feeling like I'm on my death bed, I'm not doing a bump picture this week.
But since I don't feel like doing a bump picture, I'll share something much cuter.


How cute is this little one's profile! 
This is from our gender ultrasound last week. The only thing we got to see during our time there.
(See, way cuter than my belly!)

How far along? 17 weeks 5 days
Total weight gain/loss: Went to the doctor yesterday and weighed in at 131.5 (total gained = 6.5lbs)
Maternity clothes? I've busted out my maternity tops for comfort, not necessarily purpose. Haha.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Sleep would be fine if I wasn't stuffy nosed and sick.
Best moment this week: Finding out what our little baby is going to be!
Miss Anything? Nothing really.
Movement: Not much. 
Food cravings: Slushies.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Have you started to show yet: Still a little bump! 
Gender prediction: I'm about to write a separate post to announce!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Happy! Happy!
Weekly Wisdom: None for this week.
Looking forward to: Our next doctor appoint for the "complete" ultrasound.

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Parmesan-Crusted Ranch Chicken

I've planned to add some recipes to this blog for some time. 
Some from Lil Mrs Housewife and some that I've recently come up with but never shared anywhere.

Mark has recently gotten really irritated with all the chicken I bake. He finally put his foot down and said he wants something in a pan, fried. 

So, I took a recipe we liked. Tweeked it. And fried it. 
And it was amazing! 


Please pardon my amateur photographing. I'm by no means a food photographer.
And I don't waste space on veggies. 

Parmesan-Crusted Ranch Chicken
Adapted from: Plain Chicken

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup Ranch dressing
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper
olive oil

Clean and pound your chicken breast in a ziplock bag as thin as you can. 

In a skillet or large pan, coat the bottom with olive oil and heat on medium heat. 

While heating the oil, put ranch dressing in one bowl. Combine panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, cajun seasoning, and pepper in another bowl. 

In an assembly line, dip in ranch, then place in hot oil. Fry 4-6 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through.


Mark did mention it needing some kind of sauce to dip it in. And I agree...it could use *something*.
Any suggestions?

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15 Weeks

Well, well, well...I actually got around to taking a picture this week. 
It's def. not how I envisioned my week bump pictures to look but at least I'm attempting to keep record of the bump growth. 
Hopefully, I'll get my act together and bring my vision to life.

Until this, here's my first bump picture.
15w2d


How far along? 15 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: Scale is still crazy...reads 128.5 so up again to a total of 3.5 lbs - we will know the truth tomorrow (starting weight 125, current weight 128.5)
Maternity clothes? They aren't necessary but I've been wearing some of the sweaters I wore last year since that's all the winter clothes I really have. Ha.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: A little insomnia which I had with Rozlyn. And something weird last night, I woke up due to grinding my teeth and any time I'd attempt to go back to sleep, I'd start grinding them again. I don't know if that's pregnancy related but just so weird since I've never done that before.
Best moment this week: Receiving my Blanqi in the mail!!! and wearing my comfy maternity sweaters from last year!
Miss Anything? Not really
Movement: Nothing in a while.
Food cravings: Chipotle...at least twice a week.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Have you started to show yet: Little bump! (See picture!!!)
Gender prediction: Actually kind of leaning toward a boy this week. But I really don't know.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Weekly Wisdom: Invest in Blanqi.
Looking forward to: Our appointment tomorrow. I plan to ask them to snoop around and see if they can predict the gender early...but still won't know till Christmas Day!

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Monday, December 3, 2012

14 Weeks

Well, the pregnancy just keeps getting more and more different.

Unlike with Rozlyn, I feel like I need at least 3 good, big delicious meals a day. If I don't get food in me within a reasonable amount of time, the child makes me feel like I'm going to pass out. And it's always in the most inconvenient places and weirdest times. The other day I stopped to grab something to eat before I went grocery shopping because I knew I was on the verge of starvation. I'm guessing Baby #2 already felt that way because just after finishing my meal, I went to Target and it hit me as I was walking down the main aisle...a sweaty, weak feeling...so new to me. Apparently the nice meal I enjoyed didn't digest fast enough to please Baby.

I, also, notice I am much more emotional with this baby. I just cry a lot more...and a lot easier.

On to the update:


How far along? 14 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: I think my scale has decided to retire because it's gone crazy...just ran to the bathroom and it read 123.5...after having 2 meals today already...with this, that means I am down 5 lbs (starting weight 125, current weight 123.5)
Maternity clothes? No but I've been eyeing my sweaters from last year just because I love them though I doubt they will fit.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Sleeping well...but not excessively.
Best moment this week: Getting a letter in the mail regarding insurance! No decision yet but it's finally progress in all this mess (I might possibly do a separate post about this crap but I don't know if I wanna make myself mad doing that just yet)
Miss Anything? Not really
Movement: Yes. Little flutters and a little pinchy-kick feeling that I swore was a bug biting me. 
Food cravings: Chocolate, lasagna, and cheese and crackers
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really.
Have you started to show yet: Mark took notice of a bump. I def. see up. But no one else has dared to say anything.
Gender prediction: No clue anymore.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Weekly Wisdom: Don't eat when you are on the verge of starvation...because Baby is already there.
Looking forward to: Our appointment and gender ultrasound coming up.

Side note: I will start belly pics soon. Learning how to use my new tripod and I'll be all over it.


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Thursday, November 29, 2012

13 Weeks

This is my first pregnancy update on the new blog and I'm kind of excited about it. It's been a special day so I've been anxious to get to the computer and share all about it.

From the very beginning of this pregnancy, I've felt like it was so much like my pregnancy with Rozlyn...up until about 2 weeks ago.

The few differences I've noticed now are my sense of smell is intense with this new baby. Smells never bothered me with Rozlyn and nothing actually bothers me with this baby either but my sense of smell is just amped up and insane which never happened with Rozlyn. Pickles and dogs I've noticed at the things I'm most sensitive to. The smell of pickles have literally repulsed me since well, forever. But now, I can even smell if my sandwich was NEAR a pickle. Everything just absorbs that smell. And dogs, UGH, they just soak up that nasty, wet-dog, outside smell. And the best, most amazing difference is the baby movement. It started waaaay early this time...I'm not sure if that's attributed to this being my second pregnancy which I've heard is very common to feel movement this soon or just being more sensitive with this pregnancy in general. But it was the real "butterfly flutters" like in the movies! I didn't feel Rozlyn kick till I was 22 weeks and it was a full-blown gassy-like kick.

These new developments have gotten me so excited to compare the two and see what will be different in the near future!

So, on to the update:

How far along? 13 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: Nothing since last week...So, total ~3 lbs (starting weight 125, current weight 128)
Maternity clothes? Nope but I've been enjoying wearing leggings again...though they aren't maternityStretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Sleeping well as long as Rozlyn is
Best moment this week: The flutter!
Miss Anything? Nothing really.
Movement: YES! Today was the first day!
Food cravings: This week I'm loving chocolate.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing.
Have you started to show yet: Not really.
Gender prediction: Now that this pregnancy is becoming a little different, I really don't know.
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Although it was an exciting day, it was my first really moody day. I feel sorry for anyone I talked to on the phone.
Weekly Wisdom: None for this.
Looking forward to: Our upcoming doctor appointment.

Side note: I thought I pressed Publish the other day...but in fact, I did not. I'm currently 13 weeks and 4 days.

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Stocking Stuffers for a 1 Year Old

Well, in my case, less than a 1 year old.

I am super duper excited about Christmas this year, as I should be. It is my first Christmas as a mother. My first Christmas with a child to buy for. How will I know when to stop? How am I going to control myself?

Well, uh, the fun stopped at the stocking. I did not have one clue as to what kind of things to put in such a small child's stocking. Anything that small would obviously be hazardous, right?

Wrong! I found some cute little holiday gifts to tuck away on Christmas Eve. Here's some of what I've found.

I started with something sentimental but functional. I got these blocks from Tiny Giraffe on Etsy for $15.00 and was even more in love with them when they arrived. I know Rozlyn can play, throw, and sit on these for a while and then I can put them up for her to one day have in her own home, with her own little ones.


Next, I added some cute little bows. Because, really, can a little girl ever have too many bows? Since we are ones for the over the top bows, I love how perfectly dainty and cute these are. Plus, I got them on Black Friday so I got them for a steal from Ruby & Sue on Etsy, 2 for $10.00!


A stocking wouldn't be complete without a book or two. So far, I've found one, that will actually fit in the stocking. I snagged it in the $1 bins at Target. While searching for an image of it, I found that there is another book to go along with it so I will be digging through the bins once again to try and find it. They are so slim and fit perfectly in Rozlyn's stocking.

Photo Credit: Amazon
And lastly, I'll be stopping by Target for the last little stuffy which will be big girl sippy cups. I've been told over and over that the Tommee Tippee Explora Flip Tops are the best so that's what we will be try.


I'm sure with my natural impulsive-shopping habit, I will find a few more things here and there to add but this is the gist of what will consume Rozlyn's little stocking come Christmas morning.

The anticipation is killing me but I know the month will fly by, leaving me feeling like I'm missing something and asking the Lord for just one more day.

What ideas do you have for your little one's stockings? Does it gets easier as the years go by?

Happy stuffing!!!
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Welcome Home!

It's been a long, tough decision to switch over to a new blog name. It's hard to leave your roots. Lil Mrs Housewife was my home. It may have been off and on the last year or so but it was what I knew and where I felt comfortable.

Slowly, as a I started to get back into my blogging routine, something just didn't feel right. Kind of like shoes that are too small but they are your favorite pair so you force your feet into them. And I realized, my family grew...and continues to grow...so that home I made on Lil Mrs Housewife was just too small for all I wanted to share.

Lil Mrs Housewife started out as a place to share my love for being a housewife. It was just Mark, myself, and our two puppies.


 Then, this little monster came along and made our lives much crazier than we ever thought possible. And we've loved every second of it. About this time is when the blogging-neglect started.


Now that Rozlyn is older, I have more time for my blog but yet, bringing her into that space that was meant for a housewife just didn't work for me. Plus we have another little muffin on the way and I want that journey shared in the best environment possible.


So here I am...here we are. Our family. In the new virtual home. Sharing our lives with you.

Credit: ClintJamie Photography
I hope this new, fresh space will work for what I want. Yet, I don't know what that exactly is yet. I just hope it feels right.

Thanks for following me on my new journey to my new home! Make yourself comfortable.

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